Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTreated DurationUntreated DurationImproving SymptomsWorsening SymptomsRecurrent SymptomsReasons to Not Delay Treatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Treated Duration

Untreated Duration

Improving Symptoms

Worsening Symptoms

Recurrent Symptoms

Reasons to Not Delay Treatment

A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria enter your urethra and bladder. Most people need antibiotics to treat a UTI, and these medications can clear up a UTI within 24-48 hours in most cases.If the UTI has spread to your kidney, it may take a week or so to see relief. Some people will have a UTI resolve on its own within a day or two, but waiting can be painful and may increase the risk of serious complications, including kidney infection.Kinga Krzeminska / Getty ImagesA Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.Duration of Treated UTIOnce you start antibiotics for aUTI, you should get relief from symptoms within 1-2 days.Even after your symptoms go away, it’s important to continue to take your full course of antibiotics. Women usually get a three-day course of antibiotics, while men need antibiotics for 7–14 days due to biological differences in their urinary tract systems.Influencing FactorsIt may take longer for UTI symptoms to clear up if:The infection has reached your kidneys: UTIs can spread to the kidneys if left untreated. A UTI can last for a week or more if the infection has reached your kidney.You’re pregnant: This can complicate treatment.You have diabetes: Diabetes increases your risk for UTIs.Duration of Untreated UTIIn some cases, a UTI will resolve on its own. If you are not pregnant and have UTI symptoms, you can wait two days to see if your symptoms get better.If they are improving, you may not need antibiotics.However, if your symptoms last more than two days, you should see a healthcare provider for antibiotics to prevent the UTI from reaching your kidneys. You should also see a healthcare provider immediately if:You’re a male with UTI symptomsYou’re pregnantYou have UTI symptoms after surgeryYou’ve never had a UTI before and aren’t certain that’s what’s causing your symptomsYour symptoms get better, then worseA child has UTI symptomsAn older adult has a UTIInfluencing FactorsYour overall health and biological sex can impact how serious a UTI is. UTIs are more likely to resolve on their own in healthy females. That’s why other populations, including males, children, and older adults, should immediately see their doctor if they suspect a UTI.How to Tell Symptoms Are ImprovingThe symptoms of a UTI include:Pain in the lower bellyPainful or more frequent urination when you peeUrine that is cloudy, red, and strong smellingAs the infection becomes more serious, you may also notice:Fever and chillsFlushed skinPain in the back, stomach, and groinMost people notice changes to their pain level first, as symptoms begin to improve. You may notice that you’re not in as much pain when you pee and that your urine has a more normal smell and color. If you have a fever, you’ll likely notice it coming down.Worsening SymptomsYou should see a doctor if your symptoms get worse rather than better, whether you are on antibiotics or not. Call your healthcare provider if you start to experience:ChillsConfusion or changes to cognitionFever, or an increase in feverPain in your back or sideVomitingRecurrent and Chronic UTIAbout 1 in 4 women will experience chronic or recurrent UTIs.Men can experience these, too, though they’re more common in women. Recurrent UTIs also become more common in menopause.Talk with your healthcare providers about lifestyle changes and medications that can help treat recurrent UTIs. These include:Apply estrogen cream, especially if you are in or approaching menopause.Avoiding bathsor sitting in other water sources.Drink plenty of waterwhile limiting coffee, alcohol, and other fluids that irritate the bladder.Peeing after sexhelps prevent the spread of bacteria. Your healthcare provider may also suggest an antibiotic or cranberry supplement after sex, which can help reduce the risk of a UTI.Practicing good hygiene,including frequently changing menstrual products and wiping from front to back.Wearing loose-fitting clothes, including pants and clean, breathable underwear.Reasons to Not Delay TreatmentIf you don’t treat a UTI promptly, it can spread to your kidneys and cause akidney infection. Kidney infections are treatable with antibiotics, but they also bring a risk of serious complications, including kidney failure and sepsis (blood infection).In addition, UTIs can lead to delirium, especially in older adults.If you have a UTI, it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider right away for treatment rather than risk potentially serious complications.SummaryUTIs usually resolve within a day or two of starting antibiotics. Even if you’re feeling better, it’s important to finish your full course of antibiotics to ensure the infection doesn’t return. While most people need antibiotics to fight a UTI, some females without any complicating factors may notice that their UTI improves within two days without treatment.If your symptoms last longer than two days, or if you have any other health conditions, including pregnancy or diabetes, see a healthcare provider. You should also call a healthcare provider if a child or older adult in your care has symptoms of a UTI. Delaying care can lead to kidney infections and potentially serious complications, including sepsis, but treatment for UTIs is quick, cheap, and effective.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria enter your urethra and bladder. Most people need antibiotics to treat a UTI, and these medications can clear up a UTI within 24-48 hours in most cases.If the UTI has spread to your kidney, it may take a week or so to see relief. Some people will have a UTI resolve on its own within a day or two, but waiting can be painful and may increase the risk of serious complications, including kidney infection.

Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images

Woman with hands in front of groin

A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.

A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology

Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.

Duration of Treated UTI

Once you start antibiotics for aUTI, you should get relief from symptoms within 1-2 days.Even after your symptoms go away, it’s important to continue to take your full course of antibiotics. Women usually get a three-day course of antibiotics, while men need antibiotics for 7–14 days due to biological differences in their urinary tract systems.

Influencing Factors

It may take longer for UTI symptoms to clear up if:

Duration of Untreated UTI

In some cases, a UTI will resolve on its own. If you are not pregnant and have UTI symptoms, you can wait two days to see if your symptoms get better.If they are improving, you may not need antibiotics.

However, if your symptoms last more than two days, you should see a healthcare provider for antibiotics to prevent the UTI from reaching your kidneys. You should also see a healthcare provider immediately if:

Your overall health and biological sex can impact how serious a UTI is. UTIs are more likely to resolve on their own in healthy females. That’s why other populations, including males, children, and older adults, should immediately see their doctor if they suspect a UTI.

How to Tell Symptoms Are Improving

The symptoms of a UTI include:

As the infection becomes more serious, you may also notice:

Most people notice changes to their pain level first, as symptoms begin to improve. You may notice that you’re not in as much pain when you pee and that your urine has a more normal smell and color. If you have a fever, you’ll likely notice it coming down.

You should see a doctor if your symptoms get worse rather than better, whether you are on antibiotics or not. Call your healthcare provider if you start to experience:

Recurrent and Chronic UTI

About 1 in 4 women will experience chronic or recurrent UTIs.Men can experience these, too, though they’re more common in women. Recurrent UTIs also become more common in menopause.

Talk with your healthcare providers about lifestyle changes and medications that can help treat recurrent UTIs. These include:

If you don’t treat a UTI promptly, it can spread to your kidneys and cause akidney infection. Kidney infections are treatable with antibiotics, but they also bring a risk of serious complications, including kidney failure and sepsis (blood infection).

In addition, UTIs can lead to delirium, especially in older adults.If you have a UTI, it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider right away for treatment rather than risk potentially serious complications.

Summary

UTIs usually resolve within a day or two of starting antibiotics. Even if you’re feeling better, it’s important to finish your full course of antibiotics to ensure the infection doesn’t return. While most people need antibiotics to fight a UTI, some females without any complicating factors may notice that their UTI improves within two days without treatment.

If your symptoms last longer than two days, or if you have any other health conditions, including pregnancy or diabetes, see a healthcare provider. You should also call a healthcare provider if a child or older adult in your care has symptoms of a UTI. Delaying care can lead to kidney infections and potentially serious complications, including sepsis, but treatment for UTIs is quick, cheap, and effective.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection - adults.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection in women—self care.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Cedars-Sinai.Unlocking the cause of UTI-induced delirium.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection - adults.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection in women—self care.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Cedars-Sinai.Unlocking the cause of UTI-induced delirium.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection - adults.National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection in women—self care.National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.Cedars-Sinai.Unlocking the cause of UTI-induced delirium.

MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection - adults.

National Health Service.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Penn Medicine.Urinary tract infections (UTIs).

MedlinePlus.Urinary tract infection in women—self care.

National Kidney Foundation.Urinary tract infections.

Cedars-Sinai.Unlocking the cause of UTI-induced delirium.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?